Target assembly



Feb. 17, 1970 w. M. BOOTH 3,

TARGET ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. Maw 41 5mm Q/wZ United States Patent 3,495,829 TARGET ASSEMBLY William M. Booth, 2006 Vista Place, Grand Haven, Mich. 49417 Filed Nov. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 591,896 Int. Cl. A63b 63/00 US. Cl. 273-102.1 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A target assembly of the type having a perforable target over a housing opening, a diagonal pivotally shiftable, projectile arresting, energy absorbing, flap device which has a reflective surface normally positioned to reflect light from a protected light source onto the target, and being temporarily shifted out of said normal position when struck by a projectile.

This invention relates to a target assembly, and more particularly to a lightweight inexpensive target assembly capable of arresting and capturing propelled projectiles, and useful for indoor or outdoor target marksmanship.

Although many various target assemblies capable of capturing projectiles have been devised heretofore, those which are sufiiciently safe and practical to be commercially saleable involve a substantial expense and structural complexity. Generally they are designed and built for rifle type weapons, and are largely restricted, for economical and practical reasons, to public or private rifle range usage. There is a definite need for an inexpensive and yet safe target assembly suitable for home use with several different types of weapons including such weapons as BB guns and pellet guns as well as higher caliber weapons such as .22 caliber rifles.

Further, with present target devices the marksman frequently has great difliculty determining the accuracy of each individual shot until he empties his entire magazine and retrieves the target. This of course prevents him from correcting his shooting technique immediately after each shot.

These and other deficiencies of available target devices prevent them from being widely used among sportsmen. As a consequence, weapon practice too often results in destructive and/or illegal practices, or is neglected completely.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel target assembly that is safe, and yet inexpensive. The assembly can be constructed at a cost that makes it readily available for purchase by the average sportsman, even youngsters, for use with various caliber weapons.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive target assembly capable of economic use for weapons such as BB guns, pellet guns, and the like either for indoor or outdoor environments.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive target assembly that enables the marksman to spot the location of each shot on the target, thereby enabling correction of his shooting technique after each shot and before the next one. The location of each shot on the target can be spotted both when shooting directly at the target and when shooting at the target from an angle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a target assembly enabling the marksman to spot the location of each shot by use of a light source strategically located so as to be out of danger of being damaged by the projectiles, but causing the light to shine directly through the perforations caused in the target by the projectiles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a target assembly having a simple, but effective and reliable pro- Patented Feb. 17, 1970 jectile arresting and energy absorbing means in combination therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive target assembly having a projectile arresting and energy absorbing device that also serves the dual function of causing the light source to be beamed upon the target to enable the location of each projectile perforation to be spotted immediately by the marksman.

Another object of this invention is to provide a target assembly which by its nature can be formed of thin gauge metal, light wood or even paperboard or cardboard, and yet is safe for usage with lightweight weapons.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target assembly;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of a portion of the assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the target assembly, shown with the target sheet removed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the target assembly taken on plane 1VIV of FIG. 3.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the target assembly 10 includes a support and enclosure housing subassembly 12, a projectile arresting, energy absorbing, subassembly 14 which also serves as a light reflector, and a protected light source subassembly 16 cooperative with element 14 to project light upon a removable target 18 attached to the front of the housing by releasable securing means 20 and 22.

The housing support subassembly 12 may be any of various configurations. It has a generally vertical upright front face 12' that includes a peripheral edge portion 12a defining an opening 12b, and a lower partition 12c providing protection for light source means 16.

Mounted adjacent selected edges of opening 12b, preferably adjacent the upper and lower edges, is releasable target securing means formed of subassemblies 20 and 22. Upper subassembly 20 includes an elongated rod 200 mounted on a pair of like torsion springs 21 on opposite ends of the housing, each torsion spring being mounted on a pivot pin 23 and having its tail end anchored through an opening in the housing as at 200 (FIG. 4). The lower subassembly 22 is like the upper one 20. Thus, the rods can be shifted manually away from the face of the housing against the bias of the springs to enable a target 18 to be secured releasably over the opening through the front of the housing. The secured target 18 therefore covers the opening. It is normally of a perforable material such as paper, such paper targets being common on the market.

Mounted inside the housing, directly behind opening 12a, is element 14 which serves both as a projectile arresting, energy absorbing means, and as a light reflection means. More specifically, element 14 may simply be a flat or curvilinear plate having rearwardly projecting flanges 14a or the like for pivotal mounting to the housing. The flanges are pivotally mounted on transverse pivot rod means 14b adjacent the upper end of the plate. Suspended member 14 is therefore swingable on the rod means 14b. However, it is retained in a generally diagonal position rearwardly and downwardly, by engagement of its front lower end with a stop means 14c affixed to the housing. Its mounting and weight cause it to be biased against this stop by gravity. (A supplemental biasing means such as a spring can be used to supplement the gravity bias if desired.) This stop means may be a suitable cross rod as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Due to the pivotal mounting on its upper end, element 14 can be pivoted back from its lowermost diagonal position, into engagement with the back wall of the housing (as indicated by the arrow in FIG. '4). The movability of the flap under force increases its energy absorbing capacity for projectiles passing through target *18 and striking element 14. It deflects the arrested projectile downwardly to the bottom or floor area lze inside the housing. When so deflected, the projectile has lost most of its momentum,-because of striking the plate and thus hits the housing floor with only slight force.

Mounted within the housing, behind lower protective partition 12c, and in front of the projectile receiving floor area 12e is light supply means 16. It is particularly located and oriented with respect to deflector element 14 to cooperate with it in reflecting light onto the rear of the target for illuminating the target. Yet, it' is generally out of the path of the deflected projectiles striking element 14. This light source means may include a suitable lightbulb 16a mounted in a socket 16b which is associated with an electrical cord means 16c all of conventional. type.

The rear portion or area of the'light zone is protected by a panel 16d which separates zone 12e from the light to prevent projectiles from deflecting off element 14, ofl floor 12e, back toward the light. This area 122 is therefore a trap Zone for the arrested projectiles. In case of an occasional wild deflection of a projectile from element 14, the upper area. of the light source is preferably protected by a mesh screen 16 or some other equivalent material capable of allowing light to pass through, but capable of stopping projectile elements. The position of the light source with respect to the remainder of the housing and with respect to deflector element 14 therefore enables it to be protected from directly entering projectiles and protected from deflected projectiles, but enables it to reflect light off the front face of element 14 onto the rear face of target 18 secured over the opening. The combination therefore serves multiple purposes. Preferably the front face of element 14 is shiny, although it need not necessarily be.

For convenience, the lower rear portion of the hous ing may include a pivotal trap outlet 12,; (FIG. 4) to allow projectiles to be conveniently removed therefrom.

In use of the device therefore, a sheet target 18 of perforable type is releasably secured over opening 12b with securing means 20 and 22, by placing the upper and lower edges behind the bars biased by their respective torsion springs against the housing face. The assembly is placed in a convenient location for marksmanship practice. The light reflected onto the back of sheet 18 provides good illumination of its workings. As the marksman fires each shot, the projectile passes through sheet target 18 (as illustrated for example by the perforations P in FIG. 1). It strikes diagonal deflector 14, which pivots away from stop 140 under the projectile force, against the rear of the case. This arrests the projectile and absorbs most of its energy. The projectile is deflected from this element down into pit area 12e. The deflector flap drops back against stop 140 by the force of gravity. The light supply means, which normally illuminates the translucent non-transparent target, also then projects light directly through opening P by reflection off the front face of element 14. By the brightness of the spot, the marksman can see exactly where his shot went through the target. He then corrects his technique sufliciently to be more accurate on the next shot.

The fulfillment of the objects noted hereinabove can be readily appreciated in this brief description of the usage of the apparatus. Certain additional'advantages will probably occur to those in the art as they review the specific preferred form of the apparatus shown. It is also conceivable that certain minor deviations from the structure shown could be made without departing from the basic concept presented. Hence, the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent devices to those defined therein. i

I claim: I

'1. A target assembly for projectile propelling weapons, comprising: housing means having an opening in the front thereof for coverage by a perforable target; releasable target securing means adjacent said opening to releasably secure a perforable target over said opening; a target in said opening and having indicia means between located over said opening; light reflecting projectile arresting energy absorbing means in said housing means behind said opening to arrest projectiles striking it; light supply means positioned within said housing and arranged to be out of the range of projectiles passing through said opening and shining directly on said light reflecting projectile arresting energy absorbing means; and said light supply means and projectile arresting energy absorbing means being mounted scthat a major portion of the image of said light supply means is reflected by said projectile arresting energy absorbing means in a direction perpendicular to the back surface of said target in said opening and on the portion of the target directly behind said indicia means, so that the visibility of holes made in said target is enhanced when viewed in a direction generally perpendicular to the target.

2. The target assembly in claim 1 wherein said projectile arresting energy absorbing means is a flap pivotally suspended on its upper end and diagonally oriented behind said opening with a downward, rearward slant to deflect projectiles downwardly in the housing, and having a light reflective front surface; said housing forming a protective zone beneath said opening and in front of said flap; said light supply means being a light bulb in said protective zone cooperatively associated with said flap front surface to project light from said bulb and reflect it from said flap front surface onto said target.

3. The target assembly in claim 1 wherein said releasable target securing means comprises elements on opposite edges of said opening, biased toward said housing to squeeze a target against said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,223,519 4/1917 Reed et al. 273-102.4 X 2,013,133 9/1935 Caswell 273102.4 2,048,155 7/1936 Armantrout 273-105.6 2,670,959 3/1954 Broyles 273--102.4 X 2,838,309 6/1958 Merz et al 273102.4 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,250,108 11/1960 France.

496,873 4/ 1930 Germany.

815,467 6/ 1959 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273-1024 mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,495,829 Dated February 17, 1970 Inventor( M.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 16, "between" should be thereon SIGNED AND SEALED ANG UQN I I. "I a. -M Omission of RM m m 

